Stay in Control

According to a Statista survey, as of September 2021, 32.8% of respondents between the ages of 45 and 54 admitted they took part in some form of online gambling. The age group that participated the least in online gambling was 16 to 24 year-olds.

Safe gambling means using low-risk strategies when you play, such as setting a budget and time limit. In case you discover you have a gambling problem upon reading our article, there are ways in which you can get help. 

Without further ado, let's dive right in!

10 Useful Tips to Stay in Control

Problem gambling can quickly turn your life upside down. From a simple hobby, it can become a full-blown addiction problem that can ruin many aspects of your life - social, financial, or mental. Because we want to help, we’ve put together a useful list of tips so you can always stay in control.

1. Don’t gamble when you’re upset, stressed or drunk. It’s easy to fall prey to gambling when you’re not in a clear state of mind.

2. Don’t view gambling as a source of income. Sure, you can make some nice winnings from time to time but these should never be your main source of income.

3. Only gamble with money you can afford to lose. Never borrow money to fuel your gambling activities.

4. Gambling should be fun. If it starts becoming a burden to you or you don’t find it fun anymore, you should stop doing it. Keep in mind that this should be a hobby.

5. Take as many breaks as you need. Get up, move around, clear your mind and figure out if you want to keep doing it or not.

6. Read the terms and conditions. Bonuses are nice but they’re not free. They usually come with wagering requirements or terms and conditions that you should be fully aware of.

7. Know how the games work. If you don’t know the rules of a game before you wager, you’re only increasing your chances at losing.

8. Keep track of everything. When gambling, it’s easy to lose track of your spendings. So use a journal or spending tracker to help you manage both your time and your funds.

9. Never chase your losses. Gamblers tend to become irrational when chasing their losses. This will only result in more losses and that’s why it’s so important you have a clear budget and time limit.

10. Have other hobbies and interests. You should never let gambling become your only source of entertainment and satisfaction. Balance this out by having other hobbies and interests.

Always Read the Terms & Conditions

Bonuses and promotions are a great way for online casinos to attract new players and reward the existing ones. However, you should be well aware that every casino has its own General Terms and Bonus Terms that both need to be carefully analyzed before playing. Some of the most common terms are:

Wagering Requirements

“Wagering requirements” is a common phrase found in the terms and conditions of a bonus. Wagering requirements refer to how many times you should play through your bonuses before you can cash out.

For example: if you have a $10 bonus with 10x wagering requirements, you should bet $100 on approved games before you can withdraw any winnings you’ve made.

Time Limits

Bonus time limits are set in place so both parties (gamblers and casinos) are treated fairly. You will have to use your bonus and meet the wagering requirements in a set time limit before you can cash out on your winnings.

Maximum Winnings

The terms and conditions also include a “Maximum Winnings” section. This refers to the maximum amount you can win from a bonus and it’s set in place as a safety measure for the online casino.

Restricted Games

Almost all online casinos will allow you to play slots to meet your wagering requirements. But if slots aren’t really your thing, you must be aware of the fact that table games such as Blackjack or Roulette often don’t contribute (or only add a very small percentage) to your wagering requirements.

How to Calculate Wagering Requirements

Wagering requirements are fixed values that determine how many times you have to bet the amount of bonus money before you can actually request a withdrawal. To put it plainly, this is the amount of money you need to spend before being able to cash out on your winnings. 

Once you’ve created an account and got your first welcome bonus, it might be tempting to jump straight into playing, expecting to make bank with your free money. Before you do that, you should be aware of the wagering requirements every bonus has.

Contrary to popular belief, wagering requirements aren’t set in place for casinos to rip off their players. They’re simply ways in which casinos protect both their bonuses and their players.

When you read the terms and conditions, you will usually see that wagering requirements are displayed as a number followed by an “X” symbol. This means that the respective bonus must be wagered 10, 20, 30, or 50 times before you can turn it into real money.

Most online casinos will automatically add the welcome bonus to a player’s account once they’ve made the appropriate deposit. A huge chunk of the new players, who don’t know any better, will immediately accept the gift without reading the terms and conditions first. 

How to Cancel a Bonus

There are times when a bonus might not necessarily be your cup of tea, especially if the wagering requirements have you playing games that you’re not a fan of. The good news is - you’re able to cancel a bonus. Let’s find out how!

1. Contact the casino via Live Chat. Every online casino will have a Live Chat option. All you have to do is wait for a few minutes before a customer support rep is assigned to you. Just tell them about the bonus you want to cancel and don’t forget to ask when the change will take place.

2. Contact the casino via email. If you can’t reach anyone on Live Chat, there’s always the option to email the casino. This usually takes longer but it’s still a viable option. Usually, the email address is listed under the “Support” or “Contact” sections. All you have to do is let the casino know which bonus you wish to cancel.

3. Cancel the bonus from your account. Before you try any of the methods listed above, you should always check for an option to cancel your bonus directly from your account. You should find a “Bonus” section with the option to cancel it, should you choose to do so.

7 Myths About Online Casinos

There are some common myths and misconceptions when it comes to online gambling. Let’s take a look at some of the most common ones and debunk them.

Online casino games are rigged.

The most popular myth about online casinos is that all their games are rigged. This couldn’t be further from the truth, as rigged games could be very bad publicity for an online casino. Nowadays, software providers and casinos alike spend thousands of dollars to have their games checked for fairness and randomness.

Online gambling encourages underage players.

Sure, it’s possible for a minor to find their way into a casino and spend some money before they’re found out. However, all reputable online casinos have very strict policies when it comes to underage gambling. In most cases, you’re not allowed to make deposits and withdrawals until you’ve verified your age and identity.

Online casinos never pay their winners. 

There are a few rogue casinos that managed to ruin the reputation of the established ones. Sure, casinos might use different methods to keep your money into your account (long pending periods or identity checks) but ultimately, if you wish to withdraw your money, you will be able to do that.

Online casinos are just fronts for money laundering.

There is absolutely no evidence of this being true. The companies or individuals operating online casinos are always required to go through strict background checks before they can open a casino.

The games lag if you win too much.

If you’re on a winning streak at an online casino, they will want you to play for longer, as the odds say that over time, the house always has an advantage. They have no reason to slow down your games or freeze them, as the more you bet, the more they win. 

Online gambling is illegal

Just like land-based casinos, online casinos are ruled by strict laws and regulations. In most countries, it’s fully legal for players to enjoy some gambling sessions. 

If a slot hasn’t paid in a while, you’re due for a huge win

Slots use RNG (Random Number Generator) technology to run and this makes them create new combinations every spin. This means that every spin is random and completely isolated from the previous one. The odds stay the same, no matter if you win or lose.

Land-Based Casinos vs. Online Casinos

Bright lights and noisy games aren’t the only tools land-based casinos use to attract new players and keep their wallets empty. 

Operators use various tricks to keep you in there for longer and have you spend more. But they’re not alone, as online casinos also have their ways to keep their players hooked. 

Check out this table to learn some of the most common casino tricks:

Land-Based Casinos	Online Casinos
Land-based casinos will avoid the use of windows and clocks to deceive your perception of time.	Because you’re playing on a device, you’re always aware of how long you’ve been playing.
Slots are placed strategically. Premium slots are usually placed in the areas with most traffic.	Because there’s no physical space, online casinos cannot place their slots strategically. Instead, they sort them in categories such as “Recommended”, “Hottest” or “Our Choices”.
You can get banned if you win too much, too often. Land-based casinos will have security give you a polite warning before kicking you out.	Online casinos can also ban you for the same reason. The warning usually comes as a notification before your account is put on hold.
Casino chips are embedded with RFID chips. This allows casinos to track every chip’s movements so they can be deactivated in case they get stolen.	Because everything is digital and controlled by the online casino, there’s no need for RFID tracking. All your wagers are tracked automatically by the casino.
To keep gamblers awake and fresh, casinos pump oxygen into their halls. They also use different fragrances to boost bets on certain slot machines.	Some online casinos will refuse to acknowledge self-exclusion or account closing requests. Instead, the staff is instructed to tell you that good luck is just around the corner.
Floor plans are designed in such a way that visitors can’t see the exit.	Support operators will try to talk you out of closing your account.

Top 5 Responsible Play Tools

Casinos are imposed by regulatory bodies to adhere to a series of responsible play standards. This means that every casino will have a section of tools and resources that can help you manage your gambling addiction. Some of the most useful such tools are:

1. Time-Out Options. This can be done from your account and should allow you to block access to it for 24hrs, 48hrs, 7 days, or 30 days.

2. Financial Limits. Financial limits can also be set from your casino account and will help you limit the amount of money you spend on gambling.

3. Self-Exclusion. Self-exclusion allows you to request a gambling provider to cut off your access to gambling for a period of 6 to 12 months or up to 5 years.

4. Account Closure. Every online casino will allow you to close your account, should you choose to do so. You can either do that from the “Settings” tab or by contacting a customer support rep.

5. Reality Checks. Reality checks will be displayed by an online casino as notifications or pop-ups informing you that you have been playing for too long. 

Final Thoughts

As we have discussed in this article, it’s important you remain in full control of your gambling habits. Always read carefully the terms and conditions and play smart. 

Keep in mind that most casinos offer you tools and instruments that can help curb your gambling addiction.

If gambling becomes overwhelming, remember that you’re not alone and that you should always ask for help - either from your loved ones or from a specialist.